The Wreckers

High Seas Adventures #1

by Iain Lawrence

Washed from his wrecked ship onto a Cornish beach, 14-year-old John Spencer soon finds that the ocean has delivered him into danger. The nearby village supports itself through the practice of wrecking: tricking vessels onto the lethal coastal rocks, then looting the remains. However, the goods cannot be claimed if there are any survivors, so John must use his wits to plan his escape.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Middle Grade

196 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 1998

Reviews

[Morgan Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this to be more of a children's book, but I was pleasantly suprised to find it was a very grim story filled with well timed suspense. Lots of small details that get mentioned early in the story and brought back up later which was really satisfying. Memorable and new!

[Melissa Mahle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great "boy book". It is organized around a rather dark plot--running ships aground for profit--which makes it even more appealing. John is a great character. I've decided to read other books by Iain Lawrence because this story is so well written.

[Chris Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a nation's economy is so poor it relies on thievery. Somalia is notorious for piracy to bring money to its people. Iain Lawrence takes a look at a different sort of piracy, that of wrecking ships to loot them. Using false lights, the people who live on the island of Pendennis lure lost ships to "The Tombstones," where the ships are wrecked and their loot free for anyone on Pendennis to grab. What a terrifying position it would be on that ship, and that's the position Lawrence puts the reader in his debut fiction novel, The Wreckers. This is a story with plenty of adventure and mystery to satisfy readers.

It just so happens that the first time fourteen-year-old John Spencer's father allows him to take a ride on his ship, the Isle of Skye, is also the time the Isle of Skye is wrecked. John survives the wreck and lays dazed as he watches the people who live on the island, those he believes are there to rescue him, kill one of the crew members of the Isle of Skye. John flees, chased by the wreckers, and is pulled into a hiding place by a man with no legs named Stumps. Stumps, John learns, has John's father held prisoner on the belief that the Isle of Skye smuggled gold.

Eventually the wreckers do catch up with John. A man named Caleb Stratton intends to kill John, but another, more powerful man, named Simon Mawgan instead takes John in. Even under the safety of Mawgan, John feels uneasy. There seems to be something sinister about Mawgan, and Mawgan seems to have other motives in holding onto John. Mawgan doesn't believe John that the Isle of Skye has no gold, only cheap wine in its holds. Why then was there sawdust? Why then was the cargo loaded in the dark? All is not bad for John, however. He meets a friend in Mawgan's niece, Mary, who shows him around the island.

Much of the tension revolves around who John can trust and what the wreckers plan to do with him, as well as whether his father is still alive. Lawrence sets the stakes early when he shows the wreckers killing off survivors, so the reader knows the threats to John's life are not idle. In the end the story isn't all that difficult to predict, but it's well-told and never dull. Lawrence's greatest creation is probably Mawgan, who is shrouded in mystery. At times he seems full of evil, and at other times he seems genuinely good, as his niece claims. Those who enjoy a good adventure will want to give this a read.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent tale in the spirit of Treasure Island, Moonfleet, and the like. It's a little lower reading level than those, but not in a bad sense. It makes a great read-aloud.

Lots of action and suspense and intrigue, with secrets and surprises throughout so you are never quite sure who can be trusted and what the outcome will be. It is set in 1799 in the fictional coastal village of Pendennis in Cornwall (there is a Pendennis Castle near Falmouth, but I think the village and its geography are made up). Nearly all the village inhabitants are involved in "wrecking" - the collecting of salvage cargo from ships - sometimes ships that are intentionally destroyed through trickery and even murder. The author does a good job of setting up how and why so many could do this, due to the local landscape being unsuitable for growing crops and with mining being just about the only possible work. When ships happened to wreck on the nearby rocks, the population took advantage, and soon they prayed and worked for more wrecks - easier work than mining and with possibly richer rewards.

We learn of the colorful characters and their conspiracies, the tangled family histories, and the mysteries and legends that give a very evocative picture of this community. The book includes a good amount of unusual regional detail, such as starry-gazy pie (not for me, thank you!) and the cave tomb known as a cromlech. Also the usual nautical jargon. Oh - and the early phosphorus matches cased in glass. There's also a helpful afterword with historical background on wrecking.

Narration was great with Cornish accents that impart the flavor of the setting. I do have to say that until I consulted the print edition, I thought the character's name was Simon Morgan. It is, in fact, Simon Mawgan.

I look forward eagerly to Lawrence's two other books in the series.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best One in the Trilogy

The Wreckers (Book 1)

I didn't expect to like the book. I did. How's that for a review in one sentence? ;-)

But seriously, Iain does a great job of keeping you guessing about what's REALLY going on with the wreckers. You sympathize with John's lack of trust and hesitate with him in making decisions. Some things I expected, but others were a surprise. The writing is easy to read, being appropriate for its intended audience, and while this isn't a story or series to get super wrapped up in, it's still an engaging, nice story.

Yes, there are nautical terms, but this doesn't detract from the story. Either you love nautical books and will be able to follow with no issue, or you can accept that they are talking about different parts of the ship - either you'll care and look them up, or you won't and you'll keep reading. Regardless, the story moves along fine without getting caught up in the terms, especially since this story largely takes place on land.

4 stars

The Smugglers (Book 2)

Even though this is book 2 in the High Seas Trilogy, it can absolutely stand alone. Actually, every book in the series stands alone. There may be a thing or two that ties over from a previous work, but nothing that affects the ease of reading the story or would cause confusion.

I didn't find this story as engaging as The Wreckers. Again, parts were obvious, but even what wasn't guess-able just wasn't as well executed. Still enjoyable and appropriate for the target audience.

3.5 stars

The Buccaneers (Book 3)

This is definitely my least favorite in the trilogy. The first book definitely feels like it could be a true story, the second book feels more like fiction, but this one seems almost fanciful. Too many coincidences or things just working out for my tastes. It's not a bad book, but its forgettable. If this was the first book in the trilogy, I probably wouldn't have read the sequels as it's just alright. As is, it's a weak way to end the series. Given the quality of the first book, and even the second to some extent, this book was disappointing.

3 stars.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, but on the edge of the horrific, so be warned, it may be a nightmare in the making. If you like murder, intrigue, suspense, and downright evil, this is the book for you. Not horror in the R.L. Stine kind of way, but really scary.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of this one.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty average. I guessed the puppet master halfway through the book, but then again, my guess about Mawgan was COMPLETELY wrong. So good job to the author for that!

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool premise, very flat story.

[kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a classic - but easier at that. Good for anyone looking for adventure and a teenage hero boy.

[F.C. Shultz]

Mostly read for research for a book I’m writing about the sailing. It was just okay for the most part, but the third act elevated it to a different level. I don’t think I’ll read more in the series, but I enjoyed it.

[Lisa Rathbun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn about this book. It was certainly adventurous and exciting, but the subject matter was SO DARK and the people were SO EVIL!!! Wreckers deliberately lighting signals to make a ship crash on the rocks and then deliberately killing any survivors - this is a level of depravity so deep that I found horrifying and haunting. I really wouldn't have wanted to read this as a child nor will I recommend it to my children. Thankfully, there is a satisfying ending and some heroic and likeable characters, but overall this book was way too dark!!! I've read other reviewers using this for 5th grade! I think the violence is way too heavy for that age: there's a man who's had his tongue cut out, a man gets a pitchfork driven into him, men are set on fire, etc. This makes "Treasure Island" seem tame. Maybe children, who think they are immortal, wouldn't be as horrified as I was, but when I think of an entire community causing shipwrecks and then murdering any survivors, the callous, cold-hearted greed turns my stomach. That said, though, it's a gripping, exciting tale!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can definitely tell this is a book aimed at junior high students. It got better towards the end but I felt the plot was all over the place. I never really was able to get into the book. I felt that as soon as the story started to get better it ended. I'd recommend this book to a younger version of myself. It's short and the idea of wreckers is an interesting subject, just not in this particular format.

[Meera B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was very different then others that I have read. The plot was kind of weird but interesting at the same time. The author really describes the scenes well, but sometimes it's confusing to follow the character's journey from one place to another. At times it felt boring to me, and was hard to understand the language and traditions that common people spoke of. Overall, I thought that this books was written well, but was kind of creepy, with a few mysteries here and there.

[Jack England · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iain Lawrence The Wreckers, is the story of a young boy who's ship crashed on the coast of an evil village. The village is full of odious wreckers, people who use lanterns to trick ships into believing that there is a safe harbor, but is actually shallow rocks and the ships end up in a wreck. The wreckers, with brazen, kill everyone that survived and look for treasure. The young boy John and his father were the only ones to survive but john lost his father after the crash. John went through the village for help but the people only wanted to kill him, until Simon Mawgan, who is known to own most shipwrecks, takes John in as one of his own. Simon's niece, Mary, helps John find his father and puts a stop to the wrecking of ships.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The author used a plethora of sensory word details and “show don’t tell”. Lawrence really portrayed what it is like to be a courageous and brave person through John. This book showed that everyone has their own attributes and flaws. For instance, Simon Mawgan is super inflammatory at times and a little harsh, but is also caring and helpful. This character reminds me of my dad because my dad can be strict but through that I can learn a lot from him. Since the author also used a torrent of adjectives to describe the characters, me and the character John have a lot in common. This got me really attached to the book because I can relate with John and the choices he makes. The author could have used better word choice because some areas in the book got a little wordy. The author also could have used better transitions into dialogue. There were plenty of times where the author could have used better transitions to create more suspense and really capture the moment.
This book really reminds me of the movie Pirates of the Carribean. The setting in the book and the movie both equate each other. The Wreckers is more for younger adults so there wasn’t as much fighting as there is in Pirates of the Carribean, which made the book a little boring in some spots. In the end of the book I really liked it when John and his father had the choice to leave and go back home, but instead they had the integrity to stay and help put a stop to the shipwrecking. This is a super valuable attribute that one can have. Going the extra mile can bring happiness to one but can also bring happiness to others.
I recommend this book to all young adults looking for an action-packed and mystical story. This story should be a first pick for those who love pirates and treasure. This book would also be great for those looking for a historical fiction book. I give this book 3 stars because it seemed a little slow and boring in some parts and could use some more action.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking it way back this week with The Wreckers, a Yearling classic published in ‘99. My husband recommended it as a beloved read from his childhood and I couldn't resist the "high seas adventure" promised. I was immediately shocked by the sheer technicality of a shipwreck - I feel like I would've understood this better had I possessed an intimate knowledge of boats and sailing - but slowly relaxed into a tale that reads like a story heard aloud by the fireplace.

This is the tale of John Spencer, a 14-year boy determined to take to the sea. He accompanies his father, owner of the Isle of the Skye, on a trade voyage, until they are violently shipwrecked off the coast of Cornwall, England. Waterlogged and alone, he witnesses something horrible, something inhumane and tragic. He discovers that the coast is home to a town of wreckers - those who wreck ships on purpose, murder the survivors, and steal the cargo.

It's a nonstop adventure from there - John makes enemies, and friends, and unravels the mystery of the town. He meets murderous monsters and treacherous villains and journeys across moors and through hidden caves. He makes daring escapes and good, heroic choices. It's all really ridiculous, and unlikely, and fun and scary. It was almost a relief to read this from a young person's eyes and recognize the heart and morality of the story. I could depend on the hero.

I can't go without a quiet cringe at one of the story's antagonists - the character of Stumps could be described as downright derogatory. The Americans with Disabilities Act had been around for almost 10 years when this was published - regardless, Lawrence should've known better. It made me uncomfortable - okay, more than uncomfortable - to see a character whose disability was used as an instrument of fear. To make him scarier. Not okay at all.

But this was a page-turning, action-packed adventure, for sure, and a nice, nostalgic break from the angst of adult reading. I might even describe it as a beach read. There's a lot of good luck and a lot of bad luck and an enduring sense that everything's going to be okay. Despite issues with character and plot, the writing is atmospheric and strong. It's a practically nonsensical swashbuckling adventure pre-Pirates of the Caribbean, and like Pirates, it works.

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[Rira · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is set in 1799 on the Cornish coast. This is a dark and twisted tale of shipwreck, moral ambiguity and teenage courage through the perilous journey of 14 year old John Spencer.

The Wreckers are people who deliberately crash ships along rocky coasts to gain access to the cargo. Often acting in large groups, the Wreckers relish their 'hunt' for resources from the sea.

John Spencer gets stranded on the coast near Pendennis. He is the sole survivor from the wreck of the Isle of Sky, his father's ship. He witnessed the murder of his fellow crew on the hands of two Wreckers and realised that his own life might be next. This grim premise sets the fast pace of the story and it's dreadful premise.

The people of Pendennis utilise the loopholes of the Law to get away with mass murder all the time, wrecking ships and killing any surviving crew. The moral ambiguity within the community have normalised this catastrophic brutality through generation - naming their macabre ways as survival. John's realisation of this diabolical mentality portrays psychological depth beyong his age. He finds refuge in Mary, who later becomes his confidante.

The pace of the book holds its speed through a succession of crisis. John is unable to discern allies from enemies - creating a genuine tension among the reader. The later revelation of another survivor shifts the focus to emotional stakes outgrowing mere physical survival.

The story highlights scenic elements with the climax as John decides to put a stop to the wrecking for good. There is no judgement, only reality in its unapologetic glory. There remains consequences to end a generation of criminal activity.

The historical setting justifies the formal tone of the book. This book is the first of the High Seas Adventures series by Iain Lawrence followed by two more books.

[Blythe Brandenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my 9-yo son (he read it, then had me read it so we could talk about it). I was familiar with Ian Lawrence because my middle school classroom used to read his book, "Ghost Boy" in class. (I recommend that book too).
The Wreckers is an adventure story in the vein of "Treasure Island." It is beautifully written. I was one page in when I took a picture and sent it to a fellow author because the prose was so much cleaner and lovelier than most adult books I've read recently. Lawrence has a talent for conveying both the mood and the setting in the same description, and making that quick-paced and accessible for younger readers requires immense skill. While it's written in 1st person (which is so accessible for MG and YA books), it avoids the slog of overthinking and introspection that sometimes plagues 1st person PoV.
The book includes information about the historic events that inspired it and other books and resources for interested readers. It is appropriate for 3rd-8th grade readers, although it might still be a high-level book for some younger readers.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel has been in my classroom library, and I read it hoping to use it for book clubs.
It definitely has a lot of high drama - it begins with a shipwreck, and includes a chase scene on rooftops, someone chained in a drain, and ghostly lights and standing stones on a barren moor. Students who read this book should have a good grasp of Cornish and shipping terms to help with their comprehension of what is happening in the story.
One theme is "who can you trust?" and another is "things are not always what they seem." John Spencer, the main character, decides at the beginning of the novel to trust no one, which makes everyone seem suspect. Who really caused the shipwreck? Are the villagers luring ships to their destruction on the rocks?
This book is based on some factual evidence of people using false lights to lure ships to their doom, and then killing those who make it to shore and plundering the goods.

[Kailee:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read this story for a novel study that I was doing in my English class. It was an independent assignment but we had to choose a novel from the selection we had at school and at the time, none of the novels seemed very appealing. However, I can confidently say that I’m thankful I chose this book. Had it not been for this novel study I would’ve never picked up this book to read. I personally found the first few chapters slow and was worried it wouldn’t get better but I was evidently proven wrong as it only took another bit of reading to get me hooked. I found myself intrigued and continuously wondering what would happen next. Who did this? Who was behind that? It was better than I had expected! I don’t do many reviews so I’m definitely not good at this but I can say that I did enjoy this book. It was mysterious and had you questioning who could really be trusted, an aspect that pushed me to continue reading!

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and I was just old enough for it, I now see why. This book has an interesting balance of being written for kids and from a kids perspective, but having content that is graphic for children. I found that the maturity of the visuals surpassed the maturity of the narration and plot complexity, which is unfortunate, but maybe with children being exposed to more and more graphic content, this is not true for current generations.

I really liked the fullness of the setting, and I think that such a distinct and closed setting can be beneficial for children's books as it limits the scope of the world the child needs to picture.

This book was not written for me at my current age, and I appreciate that and could still enjoy the book. It was a simple short read, and I will be finishing up the rest of the series to remind myself of my time reading these in grade 5 or 6.

[ScarlettShadw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I recalled reading it as a child and loving it back then but could not recall 90% of the story. Plus, I wanted to start collecting stories here and there to have once I have children to read to them at bedtime. I enjoyed the story; however, I had some concerns with some of the descriptions, as they could sometimes be gory. For example, some of the nightmares the main character had included people with their eyeballs popped out of their sockets, dangling from fleshy strings, and bouncing on their cheeks. I would not mind to read this story to my child once they reach the age of ten and liked sailor/pirate material, but anyone younger than that I would not feel comfortable reading to with such details. Lawrence not only provided an intriguing tale but also provided some historical facts at the end of the story to show where he drew his inspiration.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! I so appreciate well-written middle grade fiction. This is pure adventure, not weighed down with gratuitous sex and bad language like books written for adults.
It’s a quick read. I weeded it from my library because it wasn’t being checked out, but now that I’ve read it, I might put it back in. I can easily suggest it to a guy or a girl. There is a strong female character along with the boy, 13-14 years old.
There was an enjoyable good twist toward the end. I always love that.
Also, the author’s note gives some history about real wreckers in history, very interesting.
If you’re interested in sci-fi, I just learned from my boyfriend that he happens to be reading a story about wreckers in space, “Beacon 23” by Hugh Howey, author of “Wool”, which we both loved.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun and quick book filled with adventure and suspense. It is a children’s book, but it’s filled with fairly heavy subjects from shipwrecks to murder. I remember it seeming much more dramatic when I read this as a kid, so keeping the target audience in mind is important. The characters are lovely and well thought out, though it’s primarily male characters. The plot isn’t overly deep, but there are twists and turns and every one is a suspect as John tries to find his father and prevent another wrecking. It has a fast, steady pace with a tidy ending, so if you choose not to continue the series, you’re not left wondering.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on historical findings, The Wreckers is a story of the evil that men do in the name of greed. Luring ships into a unsafe harbor, the wreckers kill the crew and loot the goods on the ship for their own benefit.

In this fictionalized story, two of those sailing on the Isle of Skye survive, yet are in harm's way. They find a way to outwit the evil, yet do not escape torture and sorrow. Quite vivid in its description of the mayhem, this is not a book for the littlest of young readers...more for tween and above.

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a very interesting concept and personally I think the author could have done a better job. There are a few plot holes, but over all I found it interesting. It's not one of my top books; however, I do not regret reading it and someone who prefers a simple book might like it more. I don't think the book was bad there were a lot of good things about it. For example, the main character developed very nicely. It just didn't get me on the edge of my seat and took me longer to get into.

[Harron68 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book won awards (young adult/children) so I expected a good deal. It had elements, the setting, the puzzle, but it wasn't great reading as adults know it. Maybe I'm unfair in judging as an oldster, but 3 stars is the most I could give. Gruesome, gory for younger readers, more for middle school age boys. As I read, the setting and suspense brought to me the film (and book) Jamaica Inn. Very similar in setting and villain.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was fun! My brother dropped this book in my lap this morning with a recommendation, and I cracked it open, thinking I’d just see what it was like. Aaand, I finished it a few hours later! Wreckers are basically the shoreside version of pirates, which made for a thrilling read, with plenty of death and peril (maybe a bit much for middle grade, but I sure enjoyed it!). Twists of mystery, and some nice friendship. I’m definitely going to pick up the sequel, if I get the chance!

[Lindsay Jobe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud with the kids. There was some language and some really dark parts.

People in Cornwall praying for ship wrecks (happens in Poldark) and living off the royalties of death and destruction when the ships do come ashore! Just have to decide who to trust!

Everyone was captivated by first page! Great mystery novel for the family. Glad my 10 year old didn’t actually take it and read it alone as I suggested.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ripping adventure reminiscent of Robert Louis Stevenson (my fave). I'm looking forward to reading more of Iain Lawrence's sea stories. Just like Stevenson's books, this did include a bit of implied violence and some gruesome details (e.g. a rat gnawing on someone's foot), so it's not a good read-aloud for little bitty kids.